Wyatt departs, Matthews arrives

There is an imminent change of personnel in the Pontypridd RFC coaching team as assistant coach Gareth Wyatt departs, to be replaced by Paul Matthews.

Paul Matthews

Wyatt moves on to take up a position as backs coach with the Wales Women senior squad, a role which he has already fulfilled on a temporary basis during the 2018 Six Nations campaign.

A stand-out player with Pontypridd, scoring 112 tries in his 293 appearances between 1995 and 2014, Wyatt progressed into the club coaching structure whilst also mentoring the Blues age grade squads and Coleg y Cymoedd.

He now departs to take up a position as a WRU national coach, and does so with the sincere thanks and good wishes of all at Pontypridd.

The vacancy created as Pontypridd RFC backs coach will be filled by former player Paul Matthews.

Matthews made 70 appearances for Ponty between 2003 and 2008 as a creative centre who also captained the club. Following his retirement he took up club coaching roles with Merthyr and then Mountain Ash, in the meantime becoming heavily involved with the Blues regional development system at under 16 then at under 18 level. Matthews also coaches the Pontypridd under 8s squad for whom his sons play.

Having progressed as a coach to level 3 status, and with strong club links as a former player, Paul Matthews will be a key addition to the Pontypridd RFC coaching team.

There has been a valuable overlap period since the start of the current league campaign during which Wyatt and Matthews have worked together at training sessions, with Wyatt’s final involvement with Pontypridd expected to be at the home game against RGC on 21st September.